HI,
I have had the pleasure of just returning from a WWF workshop in which the
strategic scope for development of the Kimberley coast in terms of a Liquified
Natural Gas (LNG) facility was discussed. The workshop was attended by senior
Ministerial delegates and decision-makers. Anyone with concern about this needs
to know the facts, as they pertain to a novel process that the WA EPA / DEC and
the Federal government is embarking upon. You will have plenty of time to
comment and I would encourage everyone to do so, including the conservation
groups. This is a chance to make a real difference. If you do not take the time
to understand the process, your criticism will at worst defeat the purpose and
at best have little or no positive impact on any decisions made.
Please read and understand the following:
1. The location of any LNG facility does not appear to be a foregone conclusion.
2. The governments have rejected ad hoc development of LNG, and instead are
embarking on their own minimum 6 month process to identify strategically placed
options for location within and outside the Kimberley.
3. The strategic identification of options and a preferred site will be done
with consideration of indigenous and western environmental, social and economic
factors and be run by the government (drawing on substantial technical
expertise outside the oil and gas industry).
4. The governments insist that any LNG development will be done at a central
hub that all companies can use. This is to avoid normal practice, where
companies could put in applications for several different facilities (as has
been the case conventionally). In fact, there are such applications in now, or
pending. As identified here, the Maret Islands is one such example. However, I
understand no decision will be made on whether this or any other site is
suitable until a full assessment of potential sites has been completed. These
sites could end up not appearing on the shortlist.
5. Once alternative sites are chosen, there will be a 2-year bilateral process
of EIA before any decision is made to approve any given project - in other
words, the 6-month assessment is not final.
6. Parallel to the process of choosing alternative sites for LNG is
consideration of world heritage listing for parts of the Kimberley.
The governments are taking the very important step of choosing alternative
sites and it would be a risky process if it were to fail. If it does, we go
back to the way things were, which entitles anyone to apply to put any industry
anywhere. The government has one chance to get this right and they are patently
aware of this, so it would fitting to see the knowledge of people on this forum
collated and put to the government for their consideration. Don't forget,
no-one can act on information they do not have.
Under conventional EIA practice, choosing sites and alternatives falls to the
proponent but is rarely if every done. When it is done, it is done poorly. The
current process is a new and potentially very important step in the way we
approach major industrial development at a strategic level in Australia. We
really need this to work and for that to happen, all relevant information must
be provided to the government so that they may act on it.
Terms of reference for the strategic assessment are going on public display
soon. Please, please, please, read and make comments on these. Also, make sure
that you provide criticism only where it is necessary. More importantly, try to
support the process through submission of knowledge as this is far more
crucial. The government are more at ease with receiving public knowledge to
inform these processes and the avenues for involvement are more open than for
EIA processes, which often require costly legal intervention.
To read more about the governments' decision, see
http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2008/02/05/bloomberg-australia-to-pick-single-site-for-kimberley-lng-plant-update2/
Regards,
Simon Mustoe.
Director, AES Applied Ecology Solutions PL.
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